Subdivision hosts Parade of Homes

Autumn Ridge, a 380-lot subdivision in Ixonia, is the first “green” site to be featured in the Metropolitan Builders Association’s annual Parade of Homes.

Developer Neumann Development will have seven model homes open to the public during the event. All models have been green-certified by third parties.

Matt Neumann, president of Waukesha-based Neumann Development, said he hopes the models can serve as educational resources for attendees about green building, with a focus on renewable technologies. Among the systems on display are solar electric, solar hot water, geothermal heating and cooling and air-to-air exchange.

Neumann called the models “mainstream homes.”

“These are houses that look normal and cost a reasonable amount,” he said.

Three of the seven models have already sold, including a house that produces all the energy used in the home as well as energy for a plug-in hybrid car.

Autumn Ridge is located on 440 acres in the town of Ixonia in Jefferson County off of state Hwy. P less than five miles from Interstate 94. It is about 30 minutes from Milwaukee and 40 minutes from Madison.

Ixonia had a population of 3,580 at the end of 2008, a 23.4% increase since the 2000 U.S. Census, according to the state Department of Administration. Oconomowoc High School, Oconomowoc Middle School and Ixonia Elementary School serve Autumn Ridge. All three schools are in the Oconomowoc Area School District.

Recreational opportunities abound in the subdivision. Autumn Ridge, which has 205 acres of permanently preserved open space, features two neighborhood parks operated by the subdivision’s homeowner’s association. A 10-acre park includes playgrounds, basketball courts and a disc golf course and plans call for soccer fields. A smaller park features mostly play areas for younger children. There also are five miles of biking and walking trails.

Neumann said the price range of homes in Autumn Ridge is between $225,000 and $300,000.“The affordable price range makes people interested and gets you a lot larger buyer group,” he said.

Casey Masterson, director of marketing for Brookstone Homes, a builder in Autumn Ridge, said the prices are getting a lot of attention. “They’re well within the reach of what first-time and move-up buyers are pursuing,” he said.

Masterson said lower taxes in Jefferson County and a highly regarded school district serving Autumn Ridge are other benefits for potential residents.

“It’s a great place for families to live,” he said.

Neumann said more than 100 homes are currently occupied in Autumn Ridge and another five to seven residences are being constructed. Between 55 and 60 lots are still available for purchase in the first phase of the development, which consists of 202 lots. Two or three more phases are planned for Autumn Ridge, Neumann said. The second phase will mostly likely not begin for another year or two, he said.